R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 10/12/2021 + 1452 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

This is a story about two women, sisters, who became as close as twins. They told each other everything, shared emotions and experiences. When they grew up and that changed. The parents loved them but were so devoted to their careers that the sisters worked always to gain attention from their mother who made decisions about their lives. Betsy, the oldest, tried to be perfect. She followed the rules, had great grades and did whatever they asked until she met Ty. Jenna took the opposite route to get her mother's attention. Her grades were mediocre at best, she violated parental rules, and in general did the opposite of what her mother wanted. She became pregnant, twice, from the same man. She seemed rootless.

Betsy's first and only rebellious act occurred when she met Ty in college. He was enrolled in agriculture, planning to become a farmer because he loved the land and animals. Betsy's parents were professionals. Her father was conductor of a symphony orchestra and her mother was a cancer specialist who worked with children, children who seemed more important to her than her daughters. They were appalled that Betsy decided to marry a farmer. A farmer! But Betsy adored Ty and the life they chose.

Jenna had discovered that she wanted to be a photographer and asked to attend a summerlong photography session. Her parents said no while whatever Betsy wanted to do was approved. But life got in the way for Jenna when her daughters, Walsh and Addie, became part of her life. She had abandoned the father, managed a coffee shop and put her photography dreams aside until a friend brought her a brochure about a two week photography session in Florida that was widely known. This was a turning point for the sisters.

The story develops interestingly from this point. Jenna asks Betsy and Ty to watch her daughters for two weeks while she goes to Florida. Two weeks become the summer and for both women their lives are changed forever. Why the author chose a hurricane to as a climaxing and uniting event I don't understand but it works. The tale is a wonderful examinationg of sisters whose closeness dwindles only to fade until something in their lives makes a difference. I enjoyed this tale. It's sensitive and well written. Read it because it's well written, concise and compact and just plain good.

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